Sen. McCaskill files for re-election

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill officially started here re-election campaign Friday, becoming the only Democrat in a Missouri Senate contest that has attracted several Republicans.

McCaskill, who was first elected in 2006, was in Jefferson City Friday to file for this year’s elections. Missouri’s candidate filing period ends Tuesday. Three prominent Republicans — former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, of Rolla; U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, of suburban St. Louis; and St. Louis businessman John Brunner— already have entered the U.S. Senate race. They are competing in a six-person GOP primary in August for the right to take on McCaskill.

“I don’t know who the Republican Party will nominate, but I think Missourians will have a very clear contrast in terms of priorities,” McCaskill said Friday.

McCaskill, who previously served as a state lawmaker, prosecutor and auditor, was one of the first sitting senators to endorse President Barack Obama in 2008 and supported the federal health care overhaul that was signed into law two years ago.

The three best known Republican candidates said during a debate last month that they support repealing the health care law.

McCaskill said she doubts people who favor repealing that law realize the popularity of some portions such as allowing children to remain on their parents health insurance plans longer and phasing out a gap in prescription drug coverage in Medicare.